Floral Glossary

Biedermeier:
A tightly arranged nosegay, consisting of concentric circles of various, differently colored flowers. The blooms are wired into a holder, with one flower variety per ring.

Cascade:
A waterfall-like spill of blooms often composed of ivy and long-stemmed flowers that is wired to cascade gracefully over the bride’s hands.

Classic bouquet:
A dense bunch of blooms, anchored in a bouquet holder, wired, or hand-tied.

Composite:
A handmade bouquet in which different petals or buds are wired together on a single stem to create the illusion of a giant flower.

Crescent:
Composed of one full flower and a flowering stem, often orchids, wired together to form a slender handle that can be held in one hand. Designed as either a full crescent — a half circle with a central flower and blossoms emanating from two sides — or a semi-crescent, which has only one trailing stem.

Oasis:
Special foam used in flower arrangements. Oasis fits in a bouquet holder and retains water like a sponge, hydrating flowers for extended time periods.

Pomander:
A bloom-covered ball suspended from a ribbon. Ideal for a junior or child attendant.

Posies:
Smaller than nosegays but similar in design, posies often include extras like ribbons or silk flowers. Perfect for children or as an alternative to mothers corsages.

Presentation:
Also known as the pageant bouquet, this is a bunch of long-stemmed flowers cradled in the bride’s arms.

Taped and wired:
Arranging technique used on bouquets, boutonnieres, headpieces, and wreaths. The head of a flower is cut from the stem and attached to a wire, which is then wrapped with floral tape. Taped and wired flowers are more easily maneuvered into shapes and styles.